April 12, 2015
Final Stats
UTEP 9, FIU 1 (5) 
2015 Season Stats
EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP softball team scored eight runs in the fourth inning, Kaitlin Fifield was in control in the circle and Tahla Wade set a new school record during a 9-1 win over FIU in five frames to complete the weekend sweep on a drizzly Sunday morning at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
The Miners improved to 13-29 overall, but most importantly they upped their Conference USA record to 8-7. The Panthers fell to 26-20 overall and 7-11 in league play.
"It was a great weekend," UTEP head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "Our bats did what they needed to do, our defense got better today, and Kaitlin did another fantastic job. The girls were energetic and ready to go; you could feel the energy and it was nice to see."
FIU took the early lead for the third time during the weekend, as Gabby Spallone doubled to left with two outs in the first inning. Aleima Lopez followed with a single to right, but a fielding miscue by the right fielder allowed Spallone to round third and cross the dish.
The Miners tied the contest in the home half, as Tahla Wade led off with a walk and then stole second. Courtney Clayton followed with a single to center, advancing Wade to third. Clayton then tried to steal second and looked like she was going to be caught. But an errand throw by the catcher went to center, making way for Wade to tie the game 1-1.
Wade tallied her 16th stolen base of the season, setting the single-season record previously held by Chelsea Troupe (15 in 2009).
Fifield, who won the first two games of the series, then held Panther hitters in check the next three innings.
In the fourth inning, as the rain starting to drop so did base hits from the Miners. Kaitlin Ryder was inserted to pinch hit and came up with a clutch RBI single through the right side, scoring pinch runner Morgan Rasmason. With the Miners leading 2-1, Breanna Medina came in the pinch hit with bases loaded. Medina was patient at the plate, as she walked to tally her first collegiate RBI (Rodriguez reentered for Medina). Wade reached base on an error by the shortstop, but still tallied an RBI, as Hope Moreno scored. Clayton followed with a single to center, plating Ryder to give UTEP a commanding 5-1 lead. Kawehiokalani Netane broke the game open with a two-run single down the left field line, paving the way for Wade and Rodriguez to cross the dish. Netane would make the score 8-1, as she scored off an FIU error. Kiki Pepi put the finishing touches on the inning with a sac-fly to right, scoring Clayton for the 9-1 lead.
"All of a sudden we just busted it open," Echo-Hawk said. "With a couple key hits, we got some momentum going and they just kind of ran with it. It's nice that we have 1-9 (hitters) that can make something big happen. (The bottom of the order) is starting to do well. We're getting a couple key pinch hits. Kaitlin Ryder coming in off the bench and getting that key hit, I think that kind of sparked us in (the fourth) inning."
Fifield then used a 1-2-3 fifth to help complete the weekend sweep.
Clayton finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Netane tallied a pair of RBI, while Moreno, Linda Garcia and Ryder each recorded a hit apiece.
Netane is hitting .500 (21-for-42) in league only games with five long balls and 15 RBI.
Fifield (9-12) earned her third consecutive win, as the sophomore pitched her 12th complete game and struck out three hitters. Fifield has been nearly unstoppable in her hometown, as she is 8-1 in the Sun City with a 1.94 ERA in 47.0 innings and striking out 32.
Up Next
UTEP will take on UTSA in San Antonio, Texas on April 18 and 19 in a three-game series. The Miners and Roadrunners are both in the C-USA West Division.
